It was great to see the recent launch of the UK’s Town of Culture competition especially as applicants have been encouraged to showcase their ‘unique stories’. Working as we do with multiple places across the UK we experience the amazingly diverse sense of place our towns provide with wonderful stories from myths to modern day technology. As a country we are generally really poor at celebrating success, promoting pride and putting ourselves forward resulting in nearly every place we work in having low confidence levels and a weak sense of identity. Instead we constantly criticise, find fault and the media at times almost glorifies in ‘High Street gloom’, a story usually far from the truth.
However, this opportunity highlights the need for places to discover, forward project and create their own special story, celebrating their DNA, highlighting their opportunities and bringing to life what makes them special and quirky bits always help! Having a clear story helps you retain and attract talent, bring in investment, encourage visitors, those looking to relocate and so much more. The great thing about creating a place story is that your stakeholders are at the heart of building this as it’s them telling and selling it that makes all the difference; to do that they must believe in it and own it. It’s really exciting watching a ‘coalition of the willing’ come together behind something that respects a place’s history but is forward-looking, that highlights the best things about a location and shines a light on its opportunities; these things are often hidden to most.
At thinkingplace we love listening to stories that make up a place story from major manufacturers to independent businesses, from theatres to attractions, from sports teams to seats of learning; they create the very texture and appeal of a place. Every story we co-create is special but the place work we undertook for Derry/Londonderry, Hull and Coventry who all went on to win UK City of Culture makes us very proud. Have you got a place story that is widely used and a clear direction of travel: it will be a source of pride but also a route to place prosperity and you might win a competition as well!
If you feel an urge to consider creating your story get in touch for a no obligation chat 😊
